Residents join hands to shore up temple

Asthinapuram temple getting ready for kumbabishekam. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

The

ashtapandana mahakumbhabhishekam (consecration ceremony) of Arulmigu Sree Valampuri Vinayakar Thirukovil on Jain Nagar First Main Road, Hasthinapuram, will be held on April 3.

The temple was renovated and given a facelift at a cost of Rs.11 lakh by the Jain Nagar Residents Welfare Association, Hasthinapuram and other well-wishers. The renovation work started in July 2014. At the rear entrance of the temple, an arch has been constructed with dedicated shrines for four deities, Siva Parvathy, Ganesha and Murugan.

“The temple was constructed more than 30 years ago and the last consecration was performed in 2002. It had only one shrine (2002) dedicated to the deity of Ganesha. Now, the temple will have shrines for Sai Baba, Navagrahas, Ayyappa (devotees can wear the sacred ‘Mala’, and carry the ‘Irumudi’ from the shrine), Durga, Anjaneya, Balamurugan, Maha Vishnu and Dakshinamurthy,” the Association committee member K. Sanjaya Kumar said.

“Moreover, the temple will have an office room,

madapalli (kitchen) and dhyana

mandapam . At the mandapam, bhajans, sloka classes for children, music concerts, narayaneeyam, Vishnu sahasranamam and Sai bhajans will be held,” he said. N.S.N. Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Hasthinapuram, has sponsored the entire painting work in the temple.

On April 2, Vigneshwara pooja, vaastu homam and poornahati will be held between 7.30 a.m. and noon. On April 3, k umbhabhishekam , deeparadhanai , m ahabhishekam , asirvatham aarathy , and annadhanam will be held between 9.30 and 11 a.m.

From April 4 to May 17, mandala abhishekam from 7 to 9 p.m., cultural programmes and upanyasam will be held. For details, contact K. Sanjaya Kumar at 9962555585.